The sound of the cricket chirping awakens 11-year-old Gabriela Perez instantly. Uncle Sandy has come to rescue her. Unfortunately, the cottage doors are locked with keyed deadbolts, and her so-called temporary foster mother, Agnes Compton, has the key. But, Gabby has a plan. She will use a can of spray oil, a candle lighter, and a towel to start a smokey fire in the bathtub that will force Miss Agnes to open the door. Gabby slips into the bathroom, cracks the screened window open a few inches and whispers to Sandy. Sandy approves her plan and ten minutes later acrid smoke is billowing into Miss Compton's bedroom. Compton unlocks the door, and Gabby runs beside her Uncle Dallas to the waiting Zodiac driven by her Aunt Gloria. In a few hours, Gabby will be on her way to a sanctuary where she will be safe until a judge decides whether Gabby Perez will live with her guardians or be put in a foster home. A crack investigator named Jay Crocker is hired to find Gabby. Crocker is successful and powerful forces are unleashed on Gabby's sanctuary. But, now Crocker is in the crosshairs of the Street Justice Gang-and a deadly move and countermove game between Crocker and Gloria Tomlin begins. If Gloria wins the game, Crocker and his crew will die. If Gloria loses the game, she will be avenged. Unless something can be done to change the situation, Jay Crocker is a dead man walking.